The 2017 Autumn Internationals 'absent XV': Billy Vunipola, France's best player and the Lions captain

The 2017 Autumn Internationals ‘absent XV’: Billy Vunipola, France’s best player and the Lions captain

Fly-half: Camille Lopez – France

French fly-half Camille Lopez suffered a sickening leg break during Clermont Auvergne’s televised win against Northampton on October 23rd — prompting an apology from BT Sport after they showed several repeats of the incident in which Lopez’s leg effectively snapped under a challenge.


Scrum-half: Greig Laidlaw – Scotland

Clermont confirmed the Scotland captain had sustained a broken fibula on October 16th and will be out for up to three months. He sustained the injury in Clermont’s Champions Cup win against the Ospreys and further examination has revealed he will be out until well into 2018.


Prop: Allan Dell – Scotland

The Edinburgh prop was ruled out of the autumn Test series after suffering a groin injury in late October.
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Hooker: Dane Coles – New Zealand

Started in their opening Autumn international but has now been ruled out for six months after suffering a serious knee injury against France. The hooker ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament.
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Prop: WP Nel – Scotland

Like Coles, the Scotland prop started the blues first Autumn International but has now been ruled out after breaking his arm against Samoa at Murrayfield. Tight-head Nel, who missed most of last season with neck problems, departed in the 32nd minute against Samoa, with Glasgow’s Zander Fagerson taking over.

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